February 14, (THEWILL) – Pope Francis has been admitted to a hospital in Rome for tests and treatment of bronchitis, the Vatican said.
THEWILL reports that the 88-year-old was hospitalised at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday morning, after series of several meetings with people, including the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico.
“This morning, at the end of his audiences, Pope Francis will be admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Hospital for some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue treatment for bronchitis, that is still ongoing, in a hospital setting”, the Holy See Press Office said in a statement
The pope, who had part of one of his lungs removed as a young man, has been experiencing breathing difficulties for over a week and has repeatedly asked aides to read his speeches aloud on his behalf.
On February 6, the Vatican announced the pope would hold most of his meetings that day and the following days in rooms at his Vatican residence in order to rest more.
Despite the illness, Francis presided at a jubilee Mass for members of the police and armed forces in St. Peter’s Square on Feb. 9 and participated in his weekly general audience on Wednesday.
THEWILL recalls that Francis was hospitalised for three nights in March 2023 with bronchitis, which was treated with antibiotics.
In December of that year, he had to cancel a visit to Dubai for the United Nations COP28 climate change conference due to another bout of bronchitis.
He has faced several health challenges in recent years, including knee and hip pain, requiring a wheelchair, inflamed colon, respiratory infections, and a fall resulting in a forearm contusion.
